Respirometer.



No. 699,637. Patnted May.l3, 1902.

A. E. ALDRICH.

BESPIBOMETER.

(Application filed. July 25, 1901.) (No Model.)

QHNO HiQhUJYI'QD I III fnvezzfoif Lzzaerizwzdn'afa UNTTED STAT S PATENT OFFICE:

ALBERT E. ALDRICH, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

RESPIROMETER.

SPEOZFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,637, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed July 25, 1901.

To dZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. ALDRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of 1 functions intended, is light and capable of production at a low figure, and it is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a respirometer including my improvements and with a portion of the chambered face-plate broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the tube which contains the liquid. Fig. 3 is a detail of a portion of a rubber blow-tube to be connected with the other tube.

Like characters refer to like parts in allthe figures of the drawings.

, The device represented involves in its organization a support, which may be of any suitable kind. The one illustrated includes in its make-up a back piece, as 2, which may be of anysuitable shapeand which maybe formed of wood or any other desirable material, the back piece being shown as having upon its upper edge the eye 3, which may be suspended from a suitably-placed hook. (Not shown.)

The breathing exercises are obtained through the agency of a tube, as 4, hereinafter more particularly described, and which consists, preferably, of glass, though the invention is not so limited, for said tube can be made of other suitable materials, and this tube is housed or inclosed by the chambered face-plate 5, which may be secured by screws or analogous fastening means to the back piece 2.

The tube 1 is bent on itself to form a plurality of vertical and substantially parallel Serial No. 69,726. (No model.)

legs, as 6, 7, and 8, the first-mentioned one being longer than the middle one and its up per end being extended through the upper cross-piece of the chambered face-plate 5 and being open, so that liquid of a suitable kind can be poured through such open end to reach the intermediate leg 7.

The leg 7 of the tube 4 is preferably somewhat greater in diameter than the leg 6, but may be of same size, it thereby serving as a reservoir for containing the liquid by which the lungs andmuscles are exercised. This liquid is denoted by 6 and may be of any suitable kind, but is preferably of a specific gravity equaling that of water, and upon the exertion of air-pressure on the liquid within chambered face-plate 5, and as the liquid ascends the leg 6, along which the graduated scale is arranged, the pressure behind the col.

umn of liquid canbe seen at a glance at the scale.

The tube 4. has an orifice, as 12, located at a suitable point therein, and in the present instance this orifice is shown as situated at the junction or bend between the legs 7 and 8, and the peculiar function of this orifice or hole will be hereinafter set forth.

The leg Stapers from its upper end downward to the bulb 8, and the lower end thereof is open. This bulb is adapted to receive the upper end of the tube 13, which is preferably of rubber or other flexible material and which constitutes, in effect, a continuation of the glass tubed. It is evident, of course, that these tubes may'be formed in one integral structure and that they may be made of other materials than those specified. .The rubber tube 13, through which the exhalations of the user are initially applied, depends from the glass tube and passes through a hole in the lower cross-piece of the chambered faceplate 5, its lower end being equipped with a bell-shaped mouthpiece 14.

The instrument hereinbefore described in one simple form thereof is intended for employment in the hygienic exercise of the lungs and also as a means for training the muscles of respiration, the command of which is of great importanceto speakers and singers and is absolutely essential to a proper control of their voices.

The mode of operation of the respirometer is as follows: When placed in an upright position, the level of the colored liquid in the tube 4 will coincide with the Zero-mark upon the graduated scale. If then the breath of a person be directed through the tube 13, the air exhaled will pass from said tube and into the primary leg 8 of the glass tube 4, and if the pressure be that accompanying normal respiration the air will find a ready exit through the orifice 12. It is a well-known scientific fact that-airis condensed in direct proportion to the degree of pressure to which it is subjected. Therefore the liquid in the leg 6 of the glass tube will rise in direct proportion as the amount of air exhaled within a given time exceeds that which may find an exit through the orifice 12. This of course refers to a period of time measured by asingle exhalation. It will therefore be obvious that the liquid in the leg 6 will rise in corre spondence with the descent of the liquid in the leg 7, due to the pressue of the breath in the leg 7, essential to the condensation necessary for its exit through the orifice 12. It will also be apparent that the work of the lungs will equal exactly that necessary to raise and sustain the liquid contained in the limb 6 at agiven degree on the scale 9. The highest benefits are derived from performing repeatedly exactly the same task. In fact, any physical development must become a normal condition before it can be regarded as real physical benefit. Only by repeating the same task can muscles and organs maintain a condition that may be regarded as normal. In other words, the condition of the muscles and organs of the body is directly due to work and exercise that have been repeatedly and regularly performed. fore the efficacy of the respirometer as a hygienic means of exercise for the lungs will be apparent. To illustrate, suppose the breathpressure in daily exercise with the instrument be sufficient to raise the liquid in the leg 6 to the eighth degree of the scale. Let this become a daily task of ten minutes for the lungs. It will be evident that this pressure exceeds considerably that of ordinary respiration. By this means the lungs are called upon to perform more work, and nature begins to provide additional strength for its accomplishment. The air-cells of the lungs are thus expanded, as is not the case in normal breathing, and the result will naturally be a great and beneficial changein the ordinary condition. The respirometer therefore Thereprovides a means for accurately'measuring the amount of work in the hygienic exercise of the lungs and renders it easily possible to repeat the same hygienic work with that degree of regularity that is absolutely essential to the development of a normal condition of health and strength.

To raise the liquid in the leg 6 of the glass tube 4 to a given degree of the graduated scale 9 and maintain it Without fluctuation at that point during an exhalation, the How of air from the lungs must exactly equal the volume that escapes through the orifice 12. This is precisely what a singer is compelled to accomplish in the production of a steady and even tone. The manner of training heretofore practiced to accomplish this end has been to depend upon the car alone for guid-- ance, with the result that from three to four years of training was required to qualify the ear with any degree of accuracy to perform that office. The device therefore provides a ready means for accurately measuring the results of this important part of vocal practice and with the additional feature of important advantage of sparing the voice during the periods of breathing exercise.

It will be obvious that when liquid is raised within the leg 6 and sustained by the breath that this is not accomplished by stationary pressure, but by working or active pressure, as the flow of breath through the orifice 12 is constant during an exhalation.

The invention is not limited to the con struction nor arrangement of parts hereinbefore set forth, for divers changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made, and it is clear that certain of these parts may, if deemed necessary, be omitted.

Having described the invention, I claim 1. In a device of the class specified, a tube containing an agent arranged to move back and forth in said tube longitudinally thereof, said tube having a plurality of legs, an open ing for the admission of an air-blast and an orifice between said opening and movable agent.

2. In a device of the class described, a tube containing a movable agent and having a plurality of parallel legs, said tube having an opening for the admission of an air=blast and an orifice between said opening and said movable agent, and a graduated scale cooperative with one of the legs.

3. In a device of the class described, a tube containing a liquid and having a plurality of legs, one of which is of greater diameter than another, said tube having an opening for the admission of an air-blast, and an air-escape orifice between said opening and liquid.

4. In a device of the class described, a tube having a plurality of legs, adapted to contain a body of liquid, and the end of one leg being open to permit the entrance thereinto of a blast of air, said tube having an orifice between the body of liquid and the point at which the air-blast enters the same.

IIO

5. In a device of the class described, a tube bent on itself to form at least three legs, said tube having an orifice at the bend or junction between two of the legs, the opposite ends of the tube being open.

6. In a device of the class specified, a tube containing a movable agent, said tube being arranged to receive an air-blast and having an air-escape orifice between said movable agent and the place at which the air is initially received, a support for said tube, and a gage.

7. In a device of the class described, a tube having a plurality of substantially parallel legs and an air-escape orifice, one end of the tube being open, and a flexible tube connected with said open end.

8. In adevice of the class described, a support and a tube on said support, having a plurality of substantially parallel legs and an airescape orifice, one of the legs being tapered and having a bulb at its end, and a flexible tube fitted over said bulb, having a mouthpiece.

9. In a device of the class specified, asupport and a tube on said support, having at piece and a chambered face-plate fastened thereon, the latter having an elongated slot, and a tube Within the face-plate having a plurality of 1egs,and a graduated scale observable through said slot and cooperative with one of the legs of said tube.

11. Ina device of the class described, a tube containing a movable agent and said tube being arranged to receive an air-blast from the user, and the tube having means for the escape of air between said movable agent and the place at which the blast is initially received.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit nesses.

ALBERT E. ALDRICIL V Witnesses:

H. E. Ross, C. N. MANNING.- 

